Over the past four years I have read some interesting posts about BI Football on this blog; some true, some not so true, but now I can no longer read without replying. As an educator with over 20 years of experience I can tell you that today’s student has changed. As a high school football assistant coach, I can tell you that today’s athlete has changed. As an employee, who has been at the Institute since the 91-92 school year, I can tell you that everything has changed & NOTHING is how it used to be. We have little to no teaching positions available for an outsider to be hired. We have little to no guarantee in PE openings for an outsider to be hired. Because of this, there is no guarantee that an outside head coach can be hired or bring anyone in to better the program. We struggle to get football players or any athlete for that matter, into a weight-training class during the school day because of the quirks in block scheduling and the need to pair electives with the new Career Academy. Since our two high schools have struggled academically, we are now fully embarked in a joint collaboration with both high school faculties to improve student achievement and rightfully so! However, this puts an incredible burden on ALL coaches (all coaches must attend) and student/athletes to conduct practices after 5:30pm-one day a week, four times per month. Bradwell employs 13 football coaches, only 4 of which have been their longer than 5 years, 5 of which are community coaches, and 2 of us that have been here 20 plus years. People are not knocking our doors down to do this stuff anymore. It requires an incredible amount of time, for below minimum wage salaries. Dare I say anything about the middle school athletic programs (I worked at HMS while I coached at BI). I agree we can be successful without a middle school feeder program, but it provides high school athletic programs with an excellent advantage when school systems implement middle school feeder systems. Whether the “selection committee” hires an outsider or an insider, none of the above is going to change! Bradwell has 1 or 2 excellent head coaching candidates already under the roof that would do a great job and are not part of the good ole boy network-far from it-and are already familiar with the ways of the Institute. There are several outsiders that have applied and would be good for the program-some used to be assistant coaches here, but my only fear is that once they get a taste of the way of the Institute-they will be looking for another job in less than 2 years. Then we will be right back where we started-searching for a new head coach. I’m not being disrespectful to anyone, nor calling anyone out on this blog. I respect your rights to your opinion and expect you to agree with some things & disagree with more of what I’ve stated. I’m just providing you with some insight as I see it and have seen it over the years!

I agree with you on a few things in your blog, but I also disagree with a number of things in your blog as well.

" As an educator with over 20 years of experience I can tell you that today’s student has changed. As a high school football assistant coach, I can tell you that today’s athlete has changed."

Well a lot has changed Amock. Some good, and a lot not so good. We the citizens of this City and County are sick and tired of the not so good. We firmly believe that it was time for a changed, and change we have gotten with the cooperation of the BOE members.

"We have little to no guarantee in PE openings for an outsider to be hired. Because of this, there is no guarantee that an outside head coach can be hired or bring anyone in to better the program."

Who says that an outside Head Football Coach and Atheletic Director has to teach P.E.? As a matter of fact, Coach Walsh's position is now open, and if I'm not mistaken, he does not even teach P.E. He teaches World History. The current status of thi football program has gone so far into the dumps, that no one that is, or was on the coaching staff under Coach Walsh, in my opinion ( and a lot of others) could never turn this program around in a positive drection. No need to campaign for it. We are totally against it.

"People are not knocking our doors down to do this stuff anymore. It requires an incredible amount of time, for below minimum wage salaries."

People are not knocking on your doors beuaae they too know that the program are in ruins. The Walsh has done a great job of reducing a great program that Bradwell Institute had to a point of no retun as along as he and his staffing staff remained there.

"I agree we can be successful without a middle school feeder program, but it provides high school athletic programs with an excellent advantage when school systems implement middle school feeder systems."

But did'nt people say who was in supporting Coach Walsh that Coach Walsh tried start a feeder system? Isnt that what he said was needed? Now you are saying that we don't need one, and you are a an assistant coach at Bradwell Institute?

" Bradwell has 1 or 2 excellent head coaching candidates already under the roof that would do a great job and are not part of the good ole boy network-far from it-and are already familiar with the ways of the Institute."

With respect to you, I'm sorry, but I simply don't believe that. At this time, while the slate is now clean, and again thanks to the BOE members in helping bring positive resolution in the coaching status of Walsh, it would be very foolish, and decieving at the very least to the citizens of Hinesville to pull such a stunt, in hiring a coach that coached under Coach Walsh or any coach in this County to become the new Head Football Coach at Bradwell Institute. Even if there is no subterfuge here, the appearance alone is not good.

"There are several outsiders that have applied and would be good for the program-some used to be assistant coaches here, but my only fear is that once they get a taste of the way of the Institute-they will be looking for another job in less than 2 years. Then we will be right back where we started-searching for a new head coach. I’m not being disrespectful to anyone, nor calling anyone out on this blog. I respect your rights to your opinion and expect you to agree with some things & disagree with more of what I’ve stated. I’m just providing you with some insight as I see it and have seen it over the years!"

I heard that there are coaches that applied, and I'm personally hoping that the Coaches from Marietta, Georgia (Lassiter High School are the ones who have applied and are selected) I do know about the program there and the success it has within the last few years. I also believe that bringing in a new system will change things incredibly in a positive directon, rather than the system that Walsh had which was a complete failure.

Now if that Coach has applied, and is hired, if these Coaches that coached under Coach Walsh would like to still coach under the new coach, and is accepted by the new coach to coach, then sobeit. But he should very well know that whom ever he brings on, he would be held accountable. The stakes are very high right now and maybe be little room for error. We need positive change in this football program that we the citizens of this City and County can believe in, and be proud of.

I appreciate your comments Amock, and I understand what you are trying to say. But what you are saying, I simply just dont agree with everything. Thank you for your comments.

AMOCK i have known you since you have been in the school system and always considered you a good friend and a good football coach.My daughter and son came through with you and you always helped them anyway you could.My selph and the people that have always supported the football program know that the 1 or 2 coaches in house would be you or Jeff Miller who b is also a good friend and a good coach.I agree that our program is not what it used to be but i do think that a change can help.It can not get any worse than the last 3 years.You know as good as anyone that Bradwell football should never be on the same level as the Savanah schools and thats where it is at now.Loseing is a hard habit to break and thats why i think if someone new from a winning program can come in here then we need to take that chance.If that were to happen he would have to have good football coaches to help try to turn the program around and i hope you and Jeff Miller would be on that staff.AMOCK you know me and my best friend really believe can earn that respect again.